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Wednesday, 19 February 2014

Cool Culottes....

Style Theory:Can Culottes be cool again? The answer is yes. They look chic, cool and elegant when styled correctly and come in so many shapes and fabrics there is a style to suit everyone..

Culottes have been trying to regain their fashion status since the 90s. Every year they are nudged into our consciousness by the designers then duly elbowed out by the consumers on the high street not ready to take the plunge. This year however, the big names in the designer world decided they would champion the culotte with the likes of Philip Lim, Tibi, Hermes, Mulberry and Victoria Beckham all featuring culottes on their SS14 catwalk shows and now the High Street has followed...

The word on the street is that culottes are cool and here is how the cool girls are styling them:

I love the bold clash of colours, adds an edge to the culottes.

All black works perfectly.

A winter look to replicate now. The big scarf balances the volume of the culottes.

Keep clothes monochrome for a sleak, unfussy look.

I love the sporty twist the white vest top brings this look.

I love the shirt tucked in the culottes, it looks so chic.

Bold, a statement, the jewel colours together look fabulous.

Sophisticated, I love the long coat with this look.

Edgy and cool, how gorgeous are these shoes?

Shorter culottes can work with trainers/slip ons if you are feeling brave

They are fairly difficult to wear 'right', so here are some styling tips when wearing culottes:

Wear with heels, this will elongate the legs and make the ankles look slimmer

Work a tailored look, wear with a shirt or blouse and wear tucked in.

Wear with a jacket that sits on the waist band of your culottes, not any lower, again this will elongate your legs.

If wearing a coat try to ensure the coat finishes below or on the hem of your culottes, not shorter, for a more flattering look.

These are less skirt like, narrower culottes, these can be worn with a more sporty look, John Lewis had paired them with a cute Kin bomber jacket that looks lovely but again I would try to wear with heels.

Ok, I may be pushing it to class these as culottes but they are quite baggy on and I just love love them, they have a short sleeve top to match, this would look amazing as an outfit for a Spring/summer wedding with a pair of fine navy or orange heels.

So there is my selection of culottes, notoriously difficult to wear but when they are styled correctly can look cool and edgy.

11 comments:

I tried a lovely navy floor length pair of culottes on in Zara - gorgeous but to be honest I just kept wishing they were a skirt so walked away. I'm still undecided but love the styling of them in your pictures.Jane xxwww.mymidlifefashion.com

I think this is one style that is a definite no for me. I don't know if it's because they remind me of the seventies or if I am just not tall enough to carry them off, but please fell free to change my mind!

I know, they are a complete marmite item, although I must admit I love the 70s look of denim culottes and tan stacked heeled knee high boots, I think that looks fab! I am only 5ft 2 so I'll see how I get on!! Xxxx

I can't wait to get a pair & have had my eye on the Dotty P ones too! I think they are fab & at least the seabreeze can't catch them & blow them over my head! Always nervous wearing a skirt along the seafront! :) Ax